On Thursday, October 8, 2026 The Children of St. Martha School hosted a division-wide Pow Wow. The day was made even more memorable by a surprise Blackfoot Naming Ceremony held just before the pow wow, during which three women in division leadership were gifted Blackfoot names by Elder Dorothy Day Chief. The ceremony was a profound expression of trust, connection and welcome, honouring the relationships that continue to grow between Holy Spirit Catholic Schools and the Blackfoot community.
The surprise Naming Ceremony honoured Board Chair Linda Ellefson, Superintendent Chantel Axani and Deputy Superintendent Anthea Boras, whose new names carry personal meaning and a lasting connection to the people and territory they serve.
The names shared during the ceremony were:
- Linda Ellefson: litam' nihkakii' — Happy Singer
- Anthea Boras: litaamik’skanispiiya’kii — Early Dancing Woman
- Chantel Axani: Pisatssaisskiyakii — Beautiful Flower Woman
For each woman, receiving a Blackfoot name was a gift to be carried with gratitude, humility, and a commitment to continued learning.
Jana Boschee, Division Principal for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education, reflected on the significance of the tradition, emphasizing that a Blackfoot name is much more than a title.
“Receiving a Blackfoot name is a sacred and meaningful way of being welcomed into relationship with the people and territory. A name carries teachings, responsibility, and connection: to community, the land, and Creator. It is more than something we are called; it offers guidance for how we walk in the world and reminds us of the gifts and responsibilities we carry.”
For Board Chair Mrs. Linda Ellefson, receiving the name litam' nihkakii', Happy Singer, was an extraordinary moment filled with wonder and gratitude.
Reflecting on the experience, Mrs. Ellefson described the name as a gift she will carry with humility and joy. She expressed hope that it would bring laughter, honour, joy and energy to those she encounters, and that through her words, actions and presence, she could contribute to the good stories of others.
She also offered gratitude for the Holy Ground on which the community lives and for her Holy Spirit family, whose daily lives reflect meaningful relationships and care for others.Her reflection concluded with a heartfelt commitment to honour the gift she had received and to live with a grateful heart, a joyful spirit, and a life that sings of gratitude, relationship, and love.
For Superintendent Chantel Axani, receiving Pisatssaisskiyakii, Beautiful Flower Woman, from Elder Dorothy Day Chief was both a profound blessing and a deep honour.
“When I first joined Holy Spirit Catholic Schools, I was immediately struck by the significance of this sacred tradition—the gifting and receiving of a Blackfoot name,” Ms. Axani reflected. “To me, this tradition is far more than a ceremony; it stands as a powerful symbol of the deep trust, mutual respect, and genuine relationships that Holy Spirit Catholic Schools and our Blackfoot community have cultivated together over many years.”
Superintendent Axani described the name as a blessing and a sacred responsibility that she will treasure throughout her life. She affirmed her commitment to nurturing strong relationships, engaging in continuous learning, and walking humbly alongside the Blackfoot community as the division continues its work toward truth, reconciliation, and hope.
Deputy Superintendent Mrs. Anthea Boras, who received the name litaamik’skanispiiya’kii, Early Dancing Woman, also described the experience as unforgettable.
During her time as an administrator at École St. Mary, Boras was warmly welcomed into the school's Native Dance Troupe as a Fancy Dancer. Having previously participated in Irish dancing, she was encouraged by dance teacher Jamie Medicine Crane to embrace elements of her Irish dancing within her Fancy Dancing and to imagine herself as a beautiful butterfly.
For Mrs. Anthea Boras, the name connected beautifully with this personal journey. She recalled the sun breaking through the clouds as she received the name alongside two women she deeply admires.
“I will carry this gift with deep gratitude, allowing it to be a guiding light in my leadership as I continue to learn, grow, and honour the teachings shared with me,” she shared.
Together, the reflections of these three leaders speak to the profound significance of receiving a Blackfoot name, not simply as an honour, but as a gift that carries teachings, responsibility, and connection. As Holy Spirit Catholic School Division continues its journey toward truth, reconciliation, and hope, these names serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of listening, learning, and nurturing the relationships that make this journey possible.